Window lock



Dec. 2l, E94@ v F. c. GORHAM WINDOW LOCK Filed Jan. 30, 1945 INVENTOR. @f4/wr C. 60e/MM, BY 2 Afro/QNE-x Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to window locks of the-W' type for limiting the opening movement of the lower or the upper window sash, or both, to a predetermined distance relative to each other.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved window lock of this type which is simple and inexpensive, yet highly effective in performing its intended function, and which is quickly and easily installed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Window lock comprising two members, one of which is adapted to be xed to the upper sash, but does not interfere with the movement of either sash relative to the other, and the other of which is ydetachably suported from the rst member and extends into the path of movement of the lower sash to limit the movement thereof, said detachable member being removable by merely rotating it through approximately 90 and withdrawing it from the xed member.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a window having upper and lower sliding sashes, with a lock constructed according to the principles of the present invention mounted on the upper sash;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the lock, the dotted line position indicating the manner in which the wedge member is turned for the purpose of removing it from its supporting member;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the lock; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6--6 in Fig. 5.

In the drawings, the reference numerals 5 and 6 indicate respectively the upper and lower sashes of an ordinary Window, said sashes being slidable vertically in the usual guides provided in the sides of the window frame l. The locking device is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral `8 and comprises a xed supporting member 9 and a locking wedge Ill which depends therefrom. The supporting member 9 is preferably in the form of a sheet metal stamping and is generally elliptical in shape, with projections H at the top and bottom thereof. The projections ll are provided at their sides with downwardly-turned prongs I3 which are pressed into the material of the upper sash 5 to attach the member 9 thereto. As shown in the drawings, the member 9 is attached. to the sash 5 at any desired elevation above the top of the lower sash 6 so that when the locking wedge I0 is attached to it, relative movement between the upper and lower sashes is limited to an opening width adequate for satisfactory ventilation while preventing unauthorized entry.

A pair of laterally-spaced, oppositely extending ears I5 are stamped to project outwardly from the face of member 9, and the locking wedge l0 is adapted to depend from said ears in a manner that will now be explained.

The locking wedge l0 is preferably stamped from sheet metal and is in the form of an elongated, downwardly tapering wedge of substantially U-shaped cross-section, having a front wall 20 and triangular side walls 2|. At its upper and lower ends, the front wall 20 is extended longitudinally to form tongues 22 and 23. The upper tongue 22 is pierced to provide a longitudinally-extending slot 24 which is of such width as to receive the ears l5 between its sides when the wedge is in vertical position, said ears overlying the outer surface of the tongue to retain the latter in place. When the wedge I0 is turned through approximately 90, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the length of the slot 24 is sufficient to clear the ears l5, hence the locking wedge can be removed from the support.- ing member 9. It will be understood of course that the ears I5 on the fixed member may be.

vertically spaced apart, and the slot 24 in the tongue 22 of the wedge-shaped member horizontally extended to produce the same result. Accordingly, where the terms horizontal and vertical appear in the claims with reference to these locking members they are merely used -in their relative sense for the salte of convenience.

The operation of the lock when it is assembled on the window sash is believed to be fairly obvious and is well illustrated in Fig- 2. The bottom tongue 23 lies relatively at against the surface of the upper sash 5 and therefore has ample clearance with respect to the adjacent edge of the lower sash 6 as the latter is moved up. Continued movement of the lower sash, however, causes the latter to engage the angular face of the wedge, and further relative movement is thereby prevented. When it is desired to free the sashes for complete opening, it is necessary only to swing the wedge lock l0 up to the hori` zontal position shown and withdraw it from supporting member 9.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and in this case the supporting member is designated by the reference numeral 3U and comprises a iiat disc having a nail 3l extending through a hole in the center thereof. The nail 3l is preferably ixed to the disc as by soldering, crimping, or by a tight press fit, and has a transversely elongated head 32 which is spaced out from the suraceo'the disc toi accommodate the thickness` of the tongue 22. The nail 3| is driven into the material of the sash 5 until the disc 30 lies flush against its surface.

The member 30 is attached to the sash so that the nail head 32 is disposed with its longitudinal axis horizontal. upper tongue of the wedge lock HJ is of the same general shape but slightly larger than nail head 32 so that the wedge lock can be attachedto or removed from the supporting member by turning it to a horizontal position. In this way,. the slotted tongue ZEicanbe passed over the elongated nailhead .32, and when the'wedge lock is then allowed to drop to its ynormal verticaljposition, ther lateral projection of the nail head Will-'overlie the edges ofthe slot' to retain the member le inplace. The operation of this embodiment istheY same as in .the previously described construction..

The elongated slot 24Min the The many advantageous features of `my invenover the showing of the drawings may bevmade Without departing from the spirit of the inven.- tion.

LI claim:

l. .A windowsash lock comprising, in combination, a fixedmember adapted to be attached to an upperwindow sash, a Wedge shaped member adaptedv to. depend' from said vxed member and to extend out into the path of the lower'window sash to limitthe vertical movement thereof, supe portingmeans projecting outwardly from the face of one of said members and' having a greater extent in one direction than transversely to .said one directiomand means on .the other of said members adapted' to pass' over' vand receiveA said supporting meansonly when the Wedge-shaped member' is turned at` an angle toits Vertical position whereby when said wedge-shaped member is*4 in vertical positionA it is restrained from'h'orizontal ymovement and is permitted onlylimited vertical movement.

2. A Window'sash lock comprising, inv combination, a fixed member adaptedto be attached to an upper window sash, a. wedge-shaped member adapted .to depend from said'` fixed member and to extend out into the path of the lower Window sash to limit the vertical movement thereof, horiv zontally elongated and vertically narrow supporting 4means projecting outwardly from the face of said rixedmernber, and means on said wedgefshaped member. including a vertically elongated-slot adapted tovpass over said supportingtmeans. only when the Wedge-shaped member is'turned to bring said slotv to a substantially horizontalY position andin alignment with lthe hori- .zontal elongation of said: supporting means inl order that said Wedge-shaped memberiwisY positively locked against dislocation when in vertical position.

3. A Window sash lock comprising, in combination, a fixed member adapted to be attached to an upper Window sash, a wedge shaped member adapted to depend from said fixed member and to receive a vertical force from the lower Window sash, and attaching means on said xed member for supporting said wedge member, saiduattaching means including portions 'spaced outwardly from the face of said fixed member and extending Vlaterally in opposite directions, said portions being appreciably Wider in a horizontal direction thanl in a vertical direction, and said Wedge member. having, aportion adjacent the top end thereof provided with a vertically elongated slot shaped to pass over said attaching means when said wedge is turned to a substantially horizontal position and to be retained positively thereby when invertical position when the wedge is vertical.

4L A window sash lock compris-ing, in combination, aixedfmen'ibery adapted to be: attached' to an upper Window sash, a wedge'shapedfmeme ber-v adapted -tou depend' from said i'ixed member and toi receivea vertical force from the lower Window sash, and attaching means' on said xed' member for supportingsaid wed`ge member; said attaching meansl including ay pair oflaterall'y spaced oppositely extending ears. projecting outwardly from theface of saidE ixed memberA and extended' parallel tov the Window pane, said ears havingv anzoverall width in a horizontal direction appreciably greater than. their verticalwidth, and saidf Wedge member having a portion adjacent rthey top' end thereof which'is thinner than theoute ward projection of said earsA andwhich fi's-fpro vided with avertical'l'y elongated slot shaped to' pass over vsaid# ears when saidwedgeV is tu-rnedi-tov a substantiallyhorizontal position and to pass between said ears arid'saidl iiXed'membe-r to be' retained thereby when the wedge is vertical.

5. A. Window sash lock comprising, in combina tion, a fixed member adaptedltoy be attached to an upper window sash, a Wedge shaped memberv adapted to depend from said'f iixed member and to receive an upward force from the lower window sash, and attaching means on said 'xed member for supporting said wedge member,A said attaching meansincl'udin'g a nail having a transversely elongated head spaced outwardly-from the face of" said fixed member, and said wedge member having a portion adjacent thevtop endl thereof which is thinner than the distance spac. ing said head from said fixed member and pro` vided with a vertically elongated slot which is adapted to pass over saidnail,` head when the wedge member is turned to a horizontal position and to be retained againstA allhorizontal displacement at said portion by said nail head vvhenthey wedge member is hanging in its-normal vertical position.

FRANK C. AGORHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferencestareiof Vrecordyinzt the;` le of thisA patentz.

UNITED STATES PATENTS l Number v `Name i Date 511,933 Cottier ,Jan.y 2, 1894 908,143 Rosine Dec. 29; 1908 1,065,498 'Beck Y V \Junel 2li,A 19113- 1,508,384=' Drake! Sept. 16, 1924 1,533,149A Wahlin May 19, 1925' 2,016,041 VKo'opetz Oct. 1, y11935" 

